Veolia Sponsors Post-Pandemic Return of the FIRST® Robotics Competition Hudson Valley Regional Event

The FIRST Robotics Hudson Valley Regional returned this year from its pandemic hiatus thanks to a generous sponsorship from Veolia.

Over three days – March 7 through 9 - forty-eight teams of high-school students from New York State, the UK and Turkey competed at Rockland Community College’s Eugene Levy Fieldhouse. With a limited timeframe, students worked with professional engineering mentors to design a robot that solves a problem using a Kit of Parts and a standard set of rules in the FIRST® Robotics Competition (www.firstinspires.org). Once these young inventors create the robot, their teams participate in regional competitions that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students.

Ten teams represent lower Hudson Valley schools and communities from Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties. They will compete for honors and recognition that reward design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship, and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities; event winners will advance to earn a spot at the international FIRST® Championship to be held April 17-20 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

“Understanding all the ways science, technology, engineering and math are applied in day-to-day life makes students start to see how they can be part of creating a sustainable future. That’s why Veolia is excited to sponsor this year's FIRST Robotics Competition,” said Chris Graziano, Veolia’s Vice President and General Manager of New York Operations.

CRESCENDO presented by Haas is part of the 2024 FIRST IN SHOW presented by Qualcomm season. In CRESCENDO, teams are encouraged to see all that is possible when combining their creative ideas and innovations with engineering and design. Through collaboration and communication, our FIRST robotics community around the world will celebrate the role that the arts play in STEAM. Our skills make it possible to create art and experiences that bring us together, entertain us, and move us.

“Our events are the culmination of countless hours of preparation by our teams of students, coaches, and mentors,” said Collin Fultz, senior program director of FIRST Robotics Competition, adding, “The event is part competition and part celebration of what our teams have achieved this year. While only a few teams at the event will be crowned champions, all our participants leave the season as better problem-solvers, more gracious professionals, and more prepared to tackle the challenges of the future.”

For more information about FIRST in New York State, please contact Janice Martino, Senior Regional Director at jmartino@firstinspires.org.

About FIRST®

FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured after-school programs. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. An international not-for-profit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Alumni of FIRST programs gain access to exclusive scholarships, internships, and other opportunities that create connections and open pathways to a wide variety of careers. Learn more at firstinspires.org.